Where to find top-rated used vehicles from 1992 to the present

It wouldn’t be that unusual, since Americans purchase more than two used vehicles for every new one.

But unlike buying new, which offers several hundred choices each year, the used-vehicle universe is populated by thousands of them (one popular website offers 25 years’ worth in 12 categories).

So, it’s no wonder that used-vehicle buyers spend about 2.5 hours more on average than new-car buyers researching options online – more than nine-and-a-half hours for used versus about seven hours for new – according to Kelley Blue Book’s Car Buyer Journey 2017 report.

KBB.com users rate the Toyota FJ Cruiser their No. 1 SUV for 2012.

One way to make the best use of this time – and maybe even shorten it – would be to consult KBB.com’s lists of “Top Consumer Rated” used vehicles starting in 1992 and comprising 12 categories: convertible, coupe, crossover, electric, hatchback, hybrid, luxury, truck, sedan, SUV, van/minivan, wagon.

“KBB.com users know a good vehicle when they see one,” said the website of its consumer ratings.

For example, if you’re seeking a five-year-old SUV, which avoids a healthy chunk of the vehicle’s depreciation, there are plenty from which to choose. KBB ranks 15, from No. 1 Toyota FJ Cruiser, which gets a 9.4 of 10 rating, with a fair market price from about $25,000 to $28,000, to the Lincoln Navigator L with a 9.1 rating and a fair market price ranging from about $23,000 to $28,000.

Then compare those results with U.S. News’ Best Cars rankings, which shows the FJ Cruiser tied for third among “affordable” midsize SUVs with the Chevrolet Traverse, rating 8.5 points of 10 overall.

The Cruiser was beaten out by the Buick Enclave (8.8) and the Nissan Murano (8.7), but finished higher than the Avalanche, MKX and Sequoia on their respective lists. The average price for the 2012 Cruiser ranges from about $26,500 to $28,500, according to U.S. News, more than any of the others.

If you’re looking for a vehicle older than 2009, however, you’re left with the KBB list.

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